j64 & $ F F. Cfcfsff, 



feathers of the tail, which are of a cinereous brown ; 

 and the four middle, which are barred with black and 

 brown. The legs in all, are yellow ; the young birds 

 are often miftaken for a new fpecies of Tringa, but 

 may be eafily known by the above notes. In moult- 

 ing, they Jole for a while the character of the long 

 Beck-feathers -, but a fet of fmali pimples, which at 

 that feafon break out above the bill, forms another. 

 The Reeves, or females, are faid never to change their 

 colors ; which are brown* fpotted in fome parts with 

 white, or aih-color : and the legs of thofe we re- 

 ceived out of the Fens were dusky. They are lefs 

 than the males, which weigh between five and fix 

 ounces. 



Thefe birds are found in Lincoln/hire, the JJle ofEly y 

 and in the eafl: riding of'TorkJftire, where they are 

 taken in nets, and fattened for the table, with bread 

 and milk, hempfeed, and fometimes with boiled 

 wheat; but if expedition is required, fugar is added, 

 which will make them in a fortnight's time a lump of 

 fat : they then fell for two (hillings or half a crown a 

 piece. Judgement is required in taking the proper 

 time for killing them, when they are at the higheft 

 pitch of fatnefs, for if that' is neglected, the birds are 

 apt to fall away. The method of killing them is by 

 cutting off their head with a pair of fciflars : the quan- 

 tity of blood that iffues is very great, coafidering the 

 fize of the bird. They are drefTed like the woodcock, 

 with their inteftines ; and, when killed at the critical 

 time, are reckoned the moil delicious of all morfels. 

 The Raffs a-re fo- addicted to fighting, that the feeders- 



axe 



